Claverhouse was a leader of wonderful dash and courage, but so cruelly did he treat the Scotch Covenanters against whom he fought that the country people nicknamed him "Bloody Claver'se." When James II was driven from his throne, and William of Orange became King of England Claverhouse planned to raise an army in Scotland and, by defeating the English troops, make James king again. He rode into Edinburgh with his troop of horsemen. The Scottish Parliament, or "Lords of Convention" were assembled there, and he called on them to follow his lead. He bade them open the Westport, or western gate of Edinburgh, and ride forth with him.

But the people of Edinburgh sided with King William, and so the bells were rung backward and the drums sounded to give the alarm. The provost, however, bade the crowd let Claverhouse go, knowing the city would be better off with the wild cavalier safely out of it. Dundee rode down the turnings of the West Bow, a street where the Scottish Church had met. Every "carline," or old woman, was scolding and shaking her head, but the young girls, the "plants of grace," looked kindly and slyly at him, wishing luck to the dashing soldier.

In the Grass-Market, a famous square of the city, the Whigs, or followers of King William, had gathered, as if half the west of Scotland had come to a hanging. These people had no liking for Claverhouse, but feared his sword. They had pikes and spears and long-handled knives, but they did not dare to attack, and stood close together, leaving the road open to the flaunting troopers.

On a high rock stood Edinburgh Castle, which was held by the Duke of Gordon for King James. Dundee rode to the castle and bade the Duke fire Mons Meg, the great cannon, and the other guns, or "marrows," on the walls. The Duke asked whither he was riding. Dundee answered that he should go wherever the shade of the great Marquis of Montrose, who had fought and died for King Charles II, should lead him. He would go to the country north of the Pentland Hills and the Firth of Forth, and find followers among the wild "Duniewassals" or Scottish chieftains who lived in the Highlands. He would rather live as an outlaw than serve the Whigs' King William, who had usurped King James's throne. So he waved his hand to the castle, and led his men out of the city, riding to the north.

The cause of King James was lost a little later, and Claverhouse was killed in the battle of Killiecrankie, in 1689.

Sir Walter Scott always preferred the Jacobites to the Whigs, and such a man as Claverhouse, with his "bonnets of Bonnie Dundee," appealed most strongly to his love of romance. The metre of this ballad has the note of galloping horses, flashing swords, and the reckless gaiety of the Cavaliers.

by Sir Walter Scott